Housing Crunch Facing Immigrant New Yorkers Worsens, New Report Finds

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Housing Crunch Facing Immigrant New Yorkers Worsens, New Report Finds

A press conference to release important new research findings about housing challenges faced by immigrant New Yorkers, with recommendations on how to address them.

It’s harder than ever to find safe and affordable housing in New York City, especially if you’re an immigrant. Rent is eating up larger and larger portions of people’s paychecks, and there are fewer affordable units—a situation made worse by the foreclosure crisis, gentrification, and predatory evictions from rent-regulated housing, the study finds.

Researchers surveyed 541 foreign-born New Yorkers, asking them about affordability, housing conditions, access to subsidized housing, and other essential indicators. By almost every measure, immigrant tenants face housing problems to a greater degree than the native born.

Advocates and impacted tenants will be available to discuss the report findings and recommendations.

WHY:

More than 1.5 million immigrants moved to New York City between 1990 and 2007 seeking a better life. As of 2006, 37 percent of New Yorkers were foreign-born. But even as they bring new energy and investment to neighborhoods, many newcomers face severe housing challenges.

The report, entitled, Confronting the Housing Squeeze: Challenges Facing Immigrant Tenants, and What New York Can Do, was produced by the Pratt Center for Community Development in collaboration with the New York Immigrant Housing Collaborative.